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Olav Lunde’s large-scale mechanical sculpture is surrounded by children in colorful winter gear, watching as the rusted metal vessel releases plumes of bright yellow and orange smoke.

"Dance in the ruins"

Permanent public commission for Vadstena Folkets park | 2023

Hand forged black steel and various salvaged steel parts

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This year-round installation is designed as an immersive space that evokes the feeling of stepping into a parallel reality, one where an ancient biomechanical civilization has vanished, leaving behind cryptic and otherworldly remnants.

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"Dance in the ruins" (Dansa i ruinerna) is a large-scale sculpture and fully accessible gathering site.

At the heart of the structure, 8 x 8 meters wide and 5 meters high, stands a unique fully, functional sculptural grill, free for the public to use.

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Resembling the remains of some ancient creature the sculpture is inviting people to gather, connect, and spend time together. The atmosphere is shaped by symbolic details, ambiguous forms, subtle lighting, and sculptural elements that blur the line between artifact and imagination.

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"Dance in the ruins" explores the question about where we all come from and where we are heading.

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Rooted in the archaeological presence of nearby Krogaränga, the work draws on the mysteries of the past to ignite new stories about what came before us.​

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The artwork was financed by Länsstyrelsen Östergötland.

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​Read more about the project >

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For commission inquiries, please contact the artist >

Olav Lunde’s large-scale industrial sculpture features a central rusted iron cylinder with multiple articulated, spindly legs extending outward like a mechanical octopus.
A group of children in neon safety vests sit on a wooden bench, watching adults preparing food inside the Olav Lunde’s mechanical sculpture.
Children in vibrant safety vests play excitedly around Olav Lunde's industrial metal sculpture as it releases thick, swirling clouds of orange-pink smoke.
Outdoor mechanical spider sculpture made of rusted steel by artist Olav Lunde, featuring a boiler-style body and segmented metal limbs.
A detail of Olav Lunde’s industrial sculpture featuring a mechanical bird-like head with a sharp beak and horseshoe "crests," perched atop a tangled "nest" of rusted metal rods.
Full view of a large-scale outdoor sculpture installation by artist Olav Lunde, constructed from rusted industrial iron and reclaimed mechanical parts.
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